Flame shapers



Jan. 30, 1962 J. T. ALGER 3,018,823

FLAME SHAPERS Filed April 28, 1958 V INVENTOR. Jerry 7T fllgar BY W.M Z4

3,fli8,823 Patented Jan. 30, 1962 tine 3,018,823 FLAME SHAPERS Jerry T.Alger, Chicago, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Configured TubeProducts Co., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Apr. 26,1958, Ser. No. 731,176 4 Claims. (Cl. 158--113) This invention relatesto burners for gas or vapor fuels, and pertains particularly to flameshapers for use with such burners.

One object of the present invention is to provide new and improved flameshapers adapted to produce a broad, somewhat flat, laterally directedflame from a single burner tube of the single port type.

A further object is to provide flame shapers which produce a steady,quiet flame, protected from being blown out or agitated by secondaryair.

Another object is to provide flame shapers which are extremelyeffective, yet are easy to manufacture and low in cost.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear fromthe following description, taken with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an elevational sectional view showing a water heater or thelike equipped with a burner having a flame shaper constituting anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the burner of FIG. 1 as applied to a different type ofwater heater.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side and front elevational views, respectively, of theburner and flame shaper of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the upper hood or deflector embodied in theflame shaper of FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the lower deflector embodied in the flame shaperof FIGS. 3 and 4, the View being taken generally as indicated by theline 66 in FIG. 3.

It will be seen that FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a burner 66 having a flameshaper 62. In FIG. 1, the burner 66 is shown as applied to a waterheater 64 having a flue or stack 66 which is positioned ofhcenter nearthe left-hand side portion of the heater. The flue 66 extends upwardlythrough a dome-shaped lower wall 68 which is provided on the waterheater 64. The burner 60 is positioned in a compartment 70 below thewall 68 and is disposed off-- center, toward the right-hand side portionof the heater. The flame shaper 62 directs the flame from the burner 66to the left so that the hot gaseous products of combustion will heat thebottom wall 68 and then will pass up the flue 66. The flame shaper 62also spreads out the flame in a direction perpendicular to the sectionplane of FIG. 1 so that the heat from the flame is spread over a largearea of the bottom wall 68. In FIG. 1, the flame from the burner 66 isindicated generally at 72.

FIG. 2 shows an application of the burner 66 to a somewhat ditferenttype of water heater 74, having a flue 76 which is centrally positioned.As before, the heater 74- has a dome-shaped lower wall 78. The burner 60is positioned near the center portion of the heater 74 so that the flame72 will heat a considerable area of the lower wall 78 around the flue76. The hot products of combustion will then pass up the flue 76 andwill heat the water around the flue.

The details of the burner 60 and the flame shaper 62 are illustrated tobest advantage in FIGS. 3-6. It will be seen that the burner 66comprises a straight burner tube 80 having an entrance portion 82. whichreceives gas or other suitable fuel from an axial jet 84. Primary air isdrawn into the entrance portion 82 through lateral ports 86. The gas andprimary air pass from the entrance portion 82 into a venturi portion 88of the burner tube. It will be seen that the venturi portion 88 flaresinto a terminal portion 96 having an open upper end forming a largesingle discharge port 92. An inturned flange 94 is formed around theport 92.

The flame shaper 62 of FIGS. l-6 has an upper hood or deflector d6. Inaddition, the illustrated shaper 6-2 has a lower deflector 98, mountedbelow the hood 96 and on the opposite side of the burner tube 86therefrom. The illustrated upper deflector or hood 96 may be regarded asbeing in the form of an angle member, having generally vertical andhorizontal flange portions 100 and 162. A curved bend 164 is formedbetween the flanges 1% and 162. It will be seen that the bend N4 isinterrupted by a curved, inclined deflecting wall portion 166 whichoverlies much of the discharge port 92. In this case, the curvature ofthe deflecting wall 11.66 is generally cylindrical in character. Thecurved deflecting wall 166 divides the generally vertical flange 196into a pair of wings 163 which extend to the left and to the right fromthe curved wall 166, as shown to best advantage in FIG. 4.

The lower end portion of the generally vertical flange 1% is formed intoa cylindrically curved mounting stub I16 adapted to be Welded orotherwise secured to the terminal portion 90 of the burner tube 86. Thewelds may be at the lower margin of the stub no as indicated at 112.

The generally horizontal flange 162 is substantially flat, but is formedwith a downturned, inclined marginal lip 1114. In the plan View of FIG.5, the lip 114 is generally in the form of a segment of a circle. Theflange 162 is approximately crescent shaped, with the curved lip I14extending along the outer edge thereof. The curved deflecting wall 106intersects with the flange 10-2 to form a curved inner edge or fold 118.The lip 114 is spaced horizontally from the edge 118.

The illustrated lower deflector 98 corresponds generally in shape to aportion of a cylinder, as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. The lowerdeflector 98 is electrically welded or otherwise secured to the terminalportion 96 on the burner tube, and is mounted around the left-hand sideportion thereof, in opposed relation to the mounting stub 11%, as shownin FIG. 3. Thus electric welds 119 are indicated in FIG. 4. The lowerdeflector 98 extends upwardly beyond the terminal portion 90. The upperend of the deflector 98 is formed with a flared, inclined lip or flange129 which is generally parallel to the curved deflecting wall 166 and isspaced rather closely thereto. Thus, both the deflecting wall 106 andthe lip 120 slant upwardly from right to left as shown in FIG. 3. Anarrow slot or exit orifice 122 is thereby provided between thedeflecting wall 166 and the lip 120.

In the illustrated construction, the deflector 98 has a lower portion124 which serves merely as a support for the burner 66. Suitablemounting bracket or flange portions 126 and 128 may be formed on thelower portion 124.

In the operation of the burner 69, the gas or other fuel is mixed withthe primary air in the burner tube 36 and is discharged upwardly throughthe port 92. The mixture is deflected by the curved wall 166 and isspread laterally to the left and to the right, as indicated by the flamepattern 72, as in FIG. 4, as well as being deflected under the flangeTil-2.

The lower deflector 98 is shaped to follow and contain the normal flowof the gas-air mixture issuing from the port 92 and shaped by the upperspreader 96. The lip 120 on the lower deflector deflects the flow ofhigh-velocity secondary air away from the flame, and thereby preventssuch secondary air from lifting or tearing the flame. In

this way, the lip 120 prevents noisy, unstable operation of the burner.

The mixture escapes through the narrow slot 122 between the deflectingwall 106 and the lip 120 and thus is spread into a thin flat flame whichextends generally in a horizontal direction from the margin of the flame1%2, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The flange 102 guides or directs themixture outwardly, while the downturned marginal lip 114 turns themixture downwardly so that the flame will extend outwardly for aconsiderable distance from the flange 102 before being turned upwardlyby secondary air. The wings 108 protect the base of the flame from.secondary air coming from the rear of the flame shaper 62.

Another function of the deflectors 96 and 98 is to increase to aconsiderable extent the effective port depth of the burner, so as tostabilize the flame and largely prevent the flame from flashing backinto the burner tube.

It will be apparent that the flame shaper provides a flat, broad,generally horizontal flame which is adapted to spread over a wide areaof a water heater or the like, so as to provide eflicient heat transferbetween the flame and the heater. The burner operates with exceptionalstability and quietness, and is virtually immune to flashing back.Nevertheless, it will be recognized that the burner and the flame shapermay be readily manufactured at low cost.

Various other modifications, alternative constructions and equivalentsmay be employed Without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a burner, the combination comprising a burner tube having an axialdischarge port therein, an outer flame deflector comprising a generallyL-shaped angle member having first and second angle flanges with anangular bend therebetween, said first angle flange having mounting meansthereon secured to one side portion of said burner tube, said firstangle flange extending outwardly from the end of said burner tube andgenerally parallel thereto, said second angle flange extending acrossand generally perpendicular to the axis of said discharge port and beingspaced outwardly therefrom, a curved inclined deflecting wall portionformed into said bend and into portions of said angle flanges, saiddeflecting wall portion being disposed at an oblique angle in front ofsaid discharge port with the convex side of said deflecting wall portiondirected toward said port to spread the fuel mixture therefrom laterallyunder said second angle flange, and an inner cylindrically curveddeflector secured to said burner tube in opposed relation to said firstangle flange and extending outwardly from the end of said burner tubetoward said second angle flange, the concave side of said innercylindrically curved deflector being directed toward said outer flamedeflector, said inner deflector having an inclined upper margin oppositesaid curved deflecting wall portion to form an exit slot therebetweenfor the discharge of the fuel mixture.

2. In a burner, the combination comprising a burner tube having an axialdischarge port therein, an outer flame deflector comprising a generallyL-shaped angle member having first and second angle flanges with anangular bend therebetween, said first angle flange having mounting meansthereon secured to one side portion of said burner tube, said firstangle flange extending outwardly from the end of said burner tube andgenerally parallel thereto, said second angle flange extending acrossand generally perpendicular to the axis of said discharge port and beingspaced outwardly therefrom, a curved inclined deflecting wall portionformed into said bend and into portions of said angle flanges, saiddeflecting wall portion being disposed at an oblique angle in front ofsaid discharge port with the convex side of said deflecting wall portiondirected toward said port to spread the fuel mixture therefrom laterallyunder said second angle flange, and an inner cylindrically curveddeflector secured to said burner tube in opposed relation to said firstangle flange and extending outwardly from the end of said burner tubetoward said second angle flange, the concave side of said innercylindrically curved deflector being directed toward said outer flamedeflector, said inner deflector having an inclined outer margin oppositesaid curved deflecting wall portion to form an exit slot therebetweenfor the discharge of the fuel mixture, said second angle flange having acurved marginal portion thereon turned toward said port at an inclinedangle for deflecting the fuel mixture downwardly, said inner deflectorhaving a flared lip along its inclined upper margin for protecting thebase of the flame from high-velocity secondary air.

3. In a burner, the combination comprising a burner tube having an axialdischarge port therein, an outer flame deflector comprising a generallyL-shaped angle member having first and second angle flanges with a bendtherebetween, said first angle flange having mounting means thereonsecured to one side portion of said burner tube, said first angle flangeextending outwardly from the end of said burner tube and generallyparallel thereto, said second angle flange extending across andgenerally perpendicular to the axis of said discharge port and beingspaced outwardly therefrom, a curved inclined deflecting wall portionformed into said bend and into portions of said angle flanges, saiddeflecting wall portion being disposed at an oblique angle in front ofsaid discharge port with the convex side of said deflecting wall portiondirected toward said port to spread the fuel mixture therefrom laterallyunder said second angle flange, said curved surface corresponding inshape to a side portion of a solid surface generated by revolution of astraight line, said curved surface extending through an arccorresponding to a fraction of a circle, and a channel-shaped deflectorsecured to said burner tube in opposed relation to said first angleflange and extending outwardly from the end of said burner tube towardsaid second angle flange, the concave side of said channel-shapeddeflector being directed toward said outer flame deflector, said seconddeflector having an inclined upper margin opposite said curveddeflecting wall portion to form an exit slot there between for thedischarge of the fuel mixture.

4. In a burner, the combination comprising a generally vertical burnertube having an axial discharge port in the upper end thereof, an upperflame deflector comprising a generally L-shaped angle member havingfirst and second angle flanges with an angular bend therebetween, saidfirst angle flange having a cylindrically curved mounting step on thelower end thereof and secured to one side portion of said burner tube,said first angle flange extending upwardly from the end of said burnertube and generally parallel thereto, said second angle flange extendinggenerally in a horizontal direction across and generally perpendicularto the axis of said discharge port and being spaced upwardly therefrom,a curved inclined deflecting wall portion formed into said bend and intoportions of said angle flanges, said deflecting wall portion beingdisposed at an oblique angle above said discharge port with the convexside of said curved deflecting wall portion directed toward said port tospread the fuel mixture therefrom laterally under said second angleflange, said curved surface corresponding in shape to a side portion ofa solid surface generated by revolution of a straight line, said curvedsurface extending through an arc corresponding to a fraction of acircle, and a lower cylindrically curved deflector secured to saidburner tube in opposed relation to said first angle flange and extendingupwardly from the end of said burner tube toward said second angleflange, the concave side of said lower cylindrically curved deflectorbeing directed toward said upper flame deflector, said lower deflectorhaving an inclined upper margin opposite and generally parallel to saidcurved deflecting wall portion to form an exit slot therebetween for thedischarge of the fuel mixture, said second angle flange having a curveddownturned inclined marginal portion thereon for deflecting the fuelmixture downwardly, said lower deflector having a flared inclined lipalong its inclined upper margin for protecting the base of the flamefrom high-velocity secondary air.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSShipman Nov. 23, 1886 Hurlbut Apr. 3, 1945 Pocrass et al. Jan. 17, 1956Little Oct. 16, 1956 Morrison Jan. 6, 1959

